Sony announced today that a new PlayStation 3 will launch next week, offering 500GB of storage and a super-slim case design that promises a 25 percent reduction in size and lower weight than the current model. The hardware comes with a sliding disk cover and will be available in black (and white in Japan), due for release September 28 in the UK.

On October 13 Sony will also release a 12GB flash memory model just for European territories, with a dedicated 250GB HDD also set for release at around the same time. The company made the announcement at a key note address during the opening of the Tokyo Game Show. The company also announced that the PlayStation Plus subscription service would be coming to the PlayStation Vita.

The 500GB PlayStation 3 will sell for right around 299 euros and will come with a copy of FIFA 13. The standalone 12GB unit (no doubt an attempt to compete with Microsoft's pared down Xbox 360 Arcade SKU) will sell for 229 euros.

The 500GB model will retail for $300 in the US and will be bundled with Assassin's Creed III when it is released on October 25. The 250GB super-slim model will also launch at about the same time with a copy of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception: Game of the Year Edition and a $30 voucher for additional Dust 514 content.